Summer is a time for many Midwesterners to travel south to warm weather, theme parks and sandy beaches.. However my family decided to venture north; less than 4 hours north of Detroit, to find the lovely Boyne Mountain Resort, nestled in the middle of two majestic mountains.
Boyne is a premier all season resort featuring so many things to do that we quickly found out that our three-day visit wasn’t going to nearly long enough to enjoy it all. This was our first visit to Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, Michigan. Boyne is actually a collection of three resorts that offer activities for all ages throughout the year. With eleven golf courses, two mountains, spa facilities and even real estate opportunities, Boyne is really a Michigan gem! We were pleased to be staying at the perfect location for our boys to enjoy some terrific activities.
Check in was a breeze and the lobby of then Mountain Grand Lodge was charming with its roaring fireplace and huge windows overlooking the mountain. We were so pleased to find our accommodations to be very spacious, with enough room for all of us to be comfortable. When we entered our room, we were so excited to see that it was two levels with two bathrooms, two separate sleeping areas and a fireplace in the living room. There was also an area with bunkbeds for the kids to enjoy. The full kitchen made it possible for us to enjoy some meals in our room and we enjoyed playing games with the kids at the dining table. The resort itself offers a variety of lodging options, including cabins, condos and deluxe resort rooms. You can check out the accommodations at http://www.boyne.com/boynemountain/lodging.
We explored the resort and were amazed to find that it offered an outdoor pool. Yes…an outdoor pool…in the winter…and people were swimming in it. Nestled outside the spa is a heated pool for families to enjoy all year. Imagine swimming in warm waters while watching other travelers careen down the mountain on a snowboard. Truly a first! If swimming outside in the winter is not for you, Boyne Mountain is home to Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark, Avalanche Bay. Avalanche Bay, measuring over 88,000 square feet, is a don’t miss attraction. Guests can enjoy waterslides, surf simulator, lazy river and pools. Avalanche Bay is open all year, offering travelers a great way to spend a day splashing and swimming. We found Avalanche Bay to be great fun, with 6 waterslides, rip surf simulator, Splashhorn Mountain and pool area. For more information, visit http://www.avalanchebay.com/index.html
The resort offered a quaint village style atmosphere, with an outdoor shopping village, arcade and dining options. We enjoyed visiting the Trophy Room Pub & Pizzeria for dinner and the kids loved having dessert at Kilwins with their awesome selection of ice cream and Michigan fudge!
Though Boyne has awesome fudge and a fantastic waterpark, the highlight of our vacation was the day my boys learned to snowboard. Boyne Mountain Resort is home to the SnowSports Academy, where you can take customized, professional lessons in skiing and snowboarding. My boys have been wanting to learn to snowboard since they saw their first winter olympics four years ago. Everytime snowboarding is on television, they are mesmerized by it. By nature, I am not a winter person. Despite growing up in the bitter Midwest, I have never really liked winter. However, being able to watch my boys learn to snowboard and then come down on the board by themselves, was an amazing rush of joy! Ryan and Liam are very active, but I had my reservations about whether or not a 7 and 8-year-old would actually take to the sport. The boys loved it and begged to go again. The small hill was perfect for them and the “magic carpet” carried them up on their own. They learned to stop, turn, put on all their equipment and cruise down the hill on their own. They hated to see their 2 hour session end so you can guess what they will be doing on our next trip back to Boyne Mountain! To learn more about lessons, visit http://www.boyne.com/boynemountain/skiing-riding/lessons.
In addition to the activities, we enjoyed a campfire, took a wagon ride, and most importantly enjoyed spending quality time together as a family (which is our favorite thing to do when we travel). Besides the skiing, snowboarding and tubing, Boyne Mountain Resort offers other activities, i.e., golf, horseback riding, paintball, tennis and more.
Our visit to Boyne was just what our family needed. It allowed our boys to try something they had always dreamed about, have fun in an expansive indoor waterpark, gave mom and dad time to relax and enjoy family time. We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation, exploring a new part of Michigan and cannot wait for others to try all that Boyne Mountain Resort has to offer as destination for the entire family!
Learn more information about Boyne Resorts at http://www.boyne.com
Learn more information about Boyne Mountain Resort at http://www.boyne.com/boynemountain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoyneMountain
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Boyne_Mountain
If you are interested in traveling here or anywhere, please contact me at kamy@dreamfindertravel.net
www.doadreamvacation.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/doadreamvacation
Disclosure: As a contributing columnist for Mami of Multiples, Kamy Moss, was on a media review trip of the Boyne Mountain Resort, however, opinions expressed here are clearly her own.
